New direction for Beavers

December 31, 2013

CALCUTTA - The Beaver Local girls basketball team is rebuilding for the second time this season.

The Beavers started strong in the first quarter but found Crestview too powerful, and the Rebels pulled away with the 61-48 victory on Monday at Beaver Local's gym. Although the woes continue for the Beavers, a person familiar to the school now looks to lift the team higher.

Beaver Local graduate Stephanie Coie looks to lift the team following the resignation of head coach Michael Spinella on Dec. 19.

"It's great being able to come back to the gym where I played basketball and be able to lead this team," Coie said.

Coie will work with assistant coach Bob Theiss to stabilize the program.

"It's another rebuilding process," Coie said. "We're pretty much going back to the fundamentals, and just starting from scratch."

A basketball standout during her time with Beaver Local, Coie previously held assistant coaching positions at East Liverpool, Lisbon, and more recently a six-year run with East Palestine before taking a one-year break before finally coming back home.

Spinella, a science and math teacher at Beaver Local High School, was hired in the spring to replace J.R. Walker who went 9-34 in two seasons. Spinella's reign lasted six games.

As she moves to varsity, Coie acknowledged that the transistion wasn't the easiest.

"Coming from junior varsity to varsity, the transistion wasn't as smooth," Coie said. "I've worked with junior varsity this whole time, but for varsity I've only had three practices until tonight to work with them."

Beaver Local superintendent Kent Polen said Spinella's letter of resignation cited his reason for stepping down as wanting to dedicate more time to his teaching duties at Beaver Local. School officials never issued a press release or statement regarding the coaching change.

The move hasn't soured the attitude amongst the team though. Coie acknowledges that it is just as positive as the beginning.

"The girls have been very upbeat through all of this," Coie said. "It's definitely going to take time, but they have been very positive especially in practice."

The positivity continued in the game with senior Danna Talbott as she led the Beavers (2-6) with 14 points. Jade Favre shot for eight points while Ravenna Cianni proved her worth from the bench, scoring 10.

The Rebels (6-4, 5-1) were led by Emily Ferris with 19 points. Anna Hardenbrook also shot strong with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Emilee Chlebus added four points and nine rebounds.

Crestview coach Rick Gates acknowledged the strength of the Beavers, and the surprise from the first quarter.

"We were a little surprised in the first quarter," Gates said. "We didn't come off strong in the first quarter the way we hoped to, but they (Beaver Local) came on strong. Getting a non-league game was good for us, and we enjoyed this."

The Beavers won in the junior varsity game 42-24.

Madison Roberts led the Beavers with nine points, while Emma Bailey scored 10 for the Rebels.